Fish Habitat Partnerships Making a Difference in Milltown Island Estuary, Washington
from the National Fish Habitat Partnership's 2015 Through a Fish's Eye Report
Summary
Partnership - Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership Milltown Island historically was an estuarine wetland and is located in the Skagit River tidal delta in Washington. However, beginning in the late 1800s the island was diked and disconnected from the Skagit River and Bay. There was, and still is a great deal of local interest in this and many other projects on the Skagit River watershed because of the desire to restore estuaries and wetlands and improve habitat for native fish. Current fish assemblage includes 14 native species: Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pink Salmon, Cutthroat Trout, Steelhead Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Three Spined Stickleback, Peamouth Chub, Prickly Sculpin, Pacific Staghorn Sculpin, [...]
Milltown Island historically was an estuarine wetland and is located in the Skagit River tidal delta in Washington. However, beginning in the late 1800s the island was diked and disconnected from the Skagit River and Bay. There was, and still is a great deal of local interest in this and many other projects on the Skagit River watershed because of the desire to restore estuaries and wetlands and improve habitat for native fish. Current fish assemblage includes 14 native species: Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pink Salmon, Cutthroat Trout, Steelhead Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Three Spined Stickleback, Peamouth Chub, Prickly Sculpin, Pacific Staghorn Sculpin, Starry Flounder, Large Scale Sucker, and Surf Smelt. Potential fish assemblage may include several additional native fish species (Pacific Lamprey, Shiner Perch) and non-native fish species (Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish).
Restoration of this island was identified by local groups and designed to restore natural hydrologic and biologic processes. The primary purpose of restoration at Milltown Island was to increase rearing habitat capacity for wild juvenile Chinook Salmon, though many other species would benefit. Juvenile habitat carrying capacity in the Skagit estuary was limiting the Chinook Salmon population’s ability to recover. Plans were federally adopted in the Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan.
Restoration began at the 212-acre Milltown Island in 2007 through the use of explosives to breach the dike surrounding the perimeter of the island. Restoration, which continued through 2014, also included building channels to allow water flow through wetlands, the burning of non-native plants, and planting native vegetation. The processes restored included:
Natural formation of tidal channels in estuaries
Unrestricted movements of saltwater through tidal channels in estuaries
Unrestricted movement and migration of fish and wildlife
Conditions improved as a result of the restoration:
Restored tidal freshwater wetlands, which are highly productive habitats that support high biodiversity values and provide connectivity between the land and sea
Restored a key area on large river delta that provides valuable nursery habitat for threatened species of juvenile salmon, such as Chinook Salmon, increasing their survival and supporting population recovery in Puget Sound
Improved quality of water flowing through the estuary
The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) is partnering with the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) to produce the 2015 report entitled, "Through a Fish's Eye: The Status of Fish Habitats in the United States 2015". The information contained within this item is a product of NFHP. The Bureau is neither responsible nor liable for the accuracy or the use of the scientific content within this item. This content is considered preliminary pending subsequent review and approval.
